A total of 319 Police support staff yesterday stormed the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in protest with pla-cards demanding the payment of their backlog salaries to a tune of three billion and thirty-six million eight hundred and eighty thousand leones.

They claimed that the Ministry of Finance owe them 56 months backlog salaries starting from July 2011 to February 2016 and had vehemently refused to honour the payment of their wages and allowance, rent and transport for no good reasons.

Chief Steward of the Police Support Staff (PSS), Moses F. Anthony alleged that they have made numerous effort in making sure that the payment process is finalized by going through the various procedures.

“Labour Ministry together with the Sierra Leone Labour Congress reached an agreement with Parliament and the law makers had authorized the ministry of Finance to pay us, but all of our efforts in coming and going had proved abortive.” he claimed.

He said they are still performing their labour service in supporting the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), such as cleaning and other chores.

He noted that the Ministry of Finance has absolutely no right to hold on to their monies. He added: “We went to State House this morning and the President instructed Honourable Nurudeen Sankoh-Yilla who spoke to us and promise to settle it. But we are here to register our disappointment over the constant delay by the Ministry,” he stated.

In a letter written by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security copied to the President, The Inspector General of Police, The Commissioner of Labour, The President Labour Congress among others, confirmed the claims made they workers.

Anthony disclosed that many of his colleagues had died and retired without acquiring their backlog salaries as a result of the delay on the part of finance.

He noted that the monies were legitimately giving to them by government, adding that the Police must help them in securing their monies. “Finance must pay us. We have work for the money and it belong to all of us here” he insisted.

When the Head of the Police media, ASP Brima Kamara was contacted for his comment, he admitted that they were Police support Staff working for them.

The Public Relation Officer in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Sayoh Kamara in reaction said he cannot comment because he has no knowledge about the issue even though he was at the scene.